Eighty years ago, in 1935, Adolph Hitler announced German rearmament in violation of the 1919 treaty of Versailles. The following year Nazi Germany reoccupied the Rhineland in further violation of the treaty. Ultimately, his provocations  led the world into World war II.

The economy of 1935 was still in a depression. The Wall Street crash of 1929, known as Black Tuesday, had devastated the stock market and brought the economy to its knees. Unemployment was 25% that year and many were working on a part-time. Industrial production was 25% lower than it had been before the crash. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as part of his "New Deal" created the works progress administration (WPA) and 1935 was the year Social Security was enacted

The following year, 1936, with the world in economic depression, Joseph Stalin began the "great purge" in the Soviet Union. In 1936 Franklin D Roosevelt was reelected to a second term in a landslide victory over Kansas governor Alf Landon.

It was 1935 when alcoholics anonymous was founded in Ohio by William G Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith.

In June of that year Sen. Huey Long of Louisiana in a filibuster made the longest speech on Senate record taking 15 1/2 hours. Two months later Huey, a US senator from Louisiana, was shot to death at the Capitol building in Baton Rouge.

And 1935 was the year the world's first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma city. It was the year of the most famous trial in history to that time, the trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann who was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's baby in New Jersey. He was later executed for the crime.

1935 was also the beginning of the dust bowl crisis with a great dust storms in New Mexico, Colorado and western Oklahoma and made famous by Woody Guthrie ballads.

And in February of 1935, February 21st to be exact, I was born in the small hospital in Anacortes, Washington. I have the bill for my mother's stay in the hospital. She was there for five days and the bill was $230.00 dollars. Times were tough economically and mother and dad already had two children, Anita and Phyllis. Dad had wanted a boy and when I was born he  actually had leaflets announcing my birth dropped by a plane over downtown. The Luvera Market, the small grocery story on 7th and Commercial was struggling, but still provided home delivery including  putting the groceries on the shelf. Credit was offered and bills were slow to be paid, but here I was in  spite of  it all.

I have a great deal of trouble accepting the  fact I am 80 years old and my brain needs to constantly  remind me that fact. I am made aware of  my  age by my artificial knees and hip, my need for a cane to protect against falling, the sudden inability to come up with a well known fact or name until I think about it  and all the physical limitations with discomfort reminders. All of these things and more make sure I don't forget how old  I am. I am also struck by the dwindling  number of old friends and people I have known. Sometimes, in my retirement I feel like an old lion  driven out of the Pride by the young strong lions. The importance of a loving spouse and family is a great comfort in that regard

Our eight children traveled to Gig Harbor last Sunday to have a birthday dinner with me. Diane traveled  from Arizona, Nick  from California and the rest from around  the state. They had created a book of memories. Each one had their own section of photos, illustrations and memories of childhood. It is a treasure to have. It was a treat to participate  with them in discussions about  what they remembered growing up and to  see how bonded they were. A very special birthday celebration for me.

Poor Lita is in her second week of recovery  from knee replacement surgery and  wasn't able to go to dinner, but they spent time with her before we left for dinner.

So, Happy Birthday to me today. I am grateful for all of God's many blessings not the least  of which isto be alive today.